New Albany Board of Public Works & Safety Meeting – April 28, 2026

The Board of Public Works & Safety of New Albany, Indiana, convened on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall. The meeting covered new business, public comments, unfinished business, and communications from city officials. Several permits were approved, an emergency gas main repair was ratified, and a road closure permit was granted with conditions. Concerns about the Fourth Street trail project were raised by a local business owner, leading to a commitment for a follow-up meeting.

New Business

• Dustin Mason requested approval to install new facing over the 8th St. Pizza sign at the Breakwater. The existing frame will remain, and two aluminum faces (approximately 42 inches round, 10 pounds each) will be attached with self-tapping screws. Installation by Pass Sign is expected to take about an hour using a bucket lift. The board approved the request unanimously.
• Wayne Holt with Miller Pipeline for CenterPoint Energy requested to install new gas service at 617 Mount Tabor Road. The work involves connection in the street with flaggers managing traffic; no road closure is needed. The board approved unanimously.
• Todd Donahue with Duke Energy was unable to attend due to storm damage assessment; a city official presented the request to replace three poles and bore a new underground service to 1302 E. Main Street (on the 13th Street side). The board approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A representative from Huey Bird Cafe (located at the corner of 4th and Market Streets) addressed the board regarding two items:
  • Road closure permit for the annual block party on June 7, 2026. Originally planned for 4th Street, but due to ongoing construction on the Mulan South Trail, the closure was moved to Market Street between 4th Street and the alley. The representative agreed to the change. Times: road closed from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; event from noon to 9:30 p.m. The board approved the closure subject to conditions: vehicles parked inside the barricades at 4th Street and the alley, and confirmation that the two adjacent businesses (Firehouse and another) are closed that day.
  • Concerns about the Fourth Street trail project. The representative stated he was not made aware of design blueprints until the day after the previous meeting and discovered that the project would eliminate all parking on 4th Street, the loading zone, and affect dumpster placement, as well as impact Harvest Homecoming logistics. He also noted that construction was already blocking the sidewalk in front of his business that morning. The city engineer (Mr. Summers) acknowledged the issues and committed to setting up a meeting with the design team to address parking, dumpster, and entrance concerns. The representative also questioned the narrow lane width for fire department access. The board noted that the parking situation is unlikely to change but that accommodations can be explored.

Unfinished Business

• AT&T presented door hangers (with contact information and a QR code) to notify residents about upcoming fiber installation. The board had approved the project last week pending receipt of these notification materials. The door hangers were accepted as fulfilling that condition. However, a separate issue arose: AT&T’s contractor (BOI) had begun work on an unapproved permit on Main Street (for a project not yet reviewed by the board). The city engineer noted that the contractor had bored across 5th Street and damaged a water gate, and that Main Street was recently reconstructed and not open to utility cuts. AT&T’s representative stated she had not issued the approved permit to construction and would ensure the contractor stops until a signed permit is obtained. The board stressed that no work may proceed without board approval. AT&T also presented preliminary plans for a future project extending east on Main Street, but the board deferred action pending a site review.

Communications – City Officials

• Paving Update (Mr. Summers): Work on Mount Tabor Road by All Terrain is complete. The low bidder (MAC Construction) has been authorized to prepare contract documents for city paving. Paving of a flood control lot (on 4th/5th Street) will begin soon. During discussion, board member Cheryl Cotner-Bailey pointed out a photo showing a downspout pipe that appeared to discharge into the riprap rather than being directed away; staff agreed to investigate and correct.
• Slate Run Road Phase 2 – LPA Consulting Contract: A not-to-exceed contract of $744,000 was presented, with an 80/20 split between federal funds and city funds. This federally funded project is estimated to cost approximately $5.5 million per mile of new roadway. The board approved the contract subject to one final legal review.
• CenterPoint Energy – Emergency Gas Main Repair: Formal approval was given for the emergency repair of a gas main damaged when a pole was knocked over at 2006 Grant Line Road (near Daisy). The board approved unanimously.
• William Stepp – PODS at 1217 E. Main Street: Permission was granted to place two PODS on the street in front of the house for up to two weeks to facilitate moving. The board noted the PODS may slightly overhang the line but approved the request.
• Street Commissioner: Announced that an ossuarium (for the cemetery) will be delivered on May 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Fairly Center (Fairview Cemetery). No road closure is needed as it is within the cemetery.
• Claims and Minutes: No claims were presented due to a technical issue. Approval of the April 21, 2026, meeting minutes was deferred to the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Approved three new business items: sign facing (Dustin Mason), gas service at 617 Mt. Tabor (Miller Pipeline), and pole replacement at 1302 E. Main (Duke Energy).
• Approved road closure permit for Huey Bird Cafe’s block party on June 7, 2026, on Market Street (8 a.m.–10 p.m.) with conditions (vehicles inside barricades; confirmation of business closures).
• City engineer will schedule a meeting with Huey Bird Cafe and the design team to mitigate impacts of the Fourth Street trail project on parking, dumpster, and loading zone.
• Accepted AT&T’s door hangers as fulfillment of notification condition; reiterated that no work on unapproved permits may begin, specifically referencing the Main Street permit that was started prematurely.
• Approved Slate Run Road Phase 2 LPA contract ($744,000) subject to legal review.
• Ratified emergency repair at Grant Line Road.
• Approved placement of two PODS at 1217 E. Main Street.
• Noted ossuarium delivery on May 5, 2026.
• Deferred claims and minutes approval to next meeting.